To invigorate the beleaguered Bahujan Samaj Party, which is facing a threat of losing the national party status, party chief Mayawati asked workers to celebrate her 59th birthday on January 15 by helping the poor and handicapped people across the state.
The move was made for large-scale celebrations to re-connect with the party’s traditional Dalit vote-bank which largely shifted to other parties, particularly
the Bharatiya Janata Party in the last few elections. “My birthday on January 15 is to be celebrated as Jan Kalyankari Diwas by helping poor, helpless and handicapped persons,” Mayawati said while addressing a meeting of party office-bearers and legislators here on Sunday.
BSP workers celebrate the party supremo’s birthday as Jan Kalyankari Diwas (public welfare day) every year. The celebrations in lucknow will take place at Chowk stadium. Mayawati came down heavily on the NDA Government at the Centre and the Samajwadi Party Government in the state as she exhorted partymen to strengthen the BSP by all means — physically and financially — to fight against “communal” NDA and “anti-people” SP Government. Alleging
that the Narendra Modi Government appeared to be “failing on all fronts”, she said that interests of capitalists were being “safeguarded” while Dalits, backwards, tribals and minority communities were ignored.
“The Modi Government is playing into the hands of capitalists. Even after being in office for seven months, the NDA was not interested in solving the problems of poor and weaker sections,” she said. Slamming the Akhilesh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh on the law and order front, the former Chief Minister said the people of the state were fed up with the SP dispensation and they wanted a change. “Anti-social elements are ruling the state and corruption is at its zenith.
legislators and ministers are not allowing honest civil and police officials to function properly,” Mayawati alleged. Mayawati also presented details regarding Assembly elections held in Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Haryana and briefed the party’s performance there.